Sometimes our job feels more like time travel…
While taking in the décor, we got to work tracing the source of the issue. We started by opening up part of the wall and stripping back the pipework to reach the main stack. An initial CCTV survey proved tricky as the line was around 80% blocked so we brought in the flexi shaft to clear and descale the pipework before giving it another go.
Even then, the bends in the system made it difficult to push the camera through, so we carried out a full external visual inspection instead. The stack itself may be showing its age, but nothing immediately obvious stood out as the cause.
So, we kept digging (literally). After removing a small section of ceiling and partition, we uncovered the real culprit — a heavily corroded open cast pipe sitting directly above the damp area. Not quite as stylish as the wallpaper, but definitely more important.
With the issue identified, we left site briefly to pick up the materials needed to make repairs to stop the leak at its source.
A good reminder that behind even the most modern shopfronts, there’s often a bit of history… and sometimes that history needs a bit of attention.
